Senate passes ban on Japan beef imports

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate has passed an amendment introduced by Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., that the United States should maintain its ban on Japanese beef until American beef imports resume in Japan.

The Senate approved the measure unanimously Tuesday.

“The Senate, acting in unity, has sent Japan a strong message. The adoption of this amendment puts Japan on notice in way that can’t be ignored,” Allard said.

Allard has been working with the Japanese government to resume American beef exports to Japan since they were banned following a positive test on a single, foreign-born cow for bovine spongiform encephalopathy — mad cow disease — in December 2003.

“But it has become clear that the Japanese Food Safety Commission plans to continue the embargo, ignoring the extensive safeguards that protect our U.S. beef supply. As long as the Japanese maintain their ban on American beef, I see no reason for us to reopen our borders to Japanese beef,” Allard said.

Last week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura at the United Nations.

Machimura said scientific discussions are underway bythe Food Safety Commission Expert Committee on Prions in Japan, that the commission is an independent organ and it is not possible to specify when the committee will arrive at a conclusion.